| Term | Definition |
|---|
| anaphase | the stage of mitosis where the sister chromatids are pulled apart by the spindle fibers, and each full set of chromosomes goes to opposite sides of the cell |
| apoptosis | the pre-planned process of cell suicide |
| asexual reproduction | the daughter cells inherit their DNA from a single parent cell |
| binary fission | bacterial cell division where one cell divides into two identical cells |
| cancer | uncontrolled cell division |
| cell cycle | the alternation of activities between processes related to cell division and processes related to growth |
| centromere | the region of contact between sister chromatids after replication, which occurs near the center of the two strands |
| chromatid | one of the two strands of a replicated chromosome |
| complementarity | the characteristic that in the double-stranded DNA molecule the base on one strand always has the same pairing-partner |
| complementary base | a base on one DNA strand that always binds to the same pairing-partner base on the opposite strand |
| crossing over | the exchange of some genetic material between a paternal homologous chromosome and a maternal homologous chromosome, leading to a chromosome carrying genetic material from each |
| cytokinesis | the duplicated cytoplasm, organelles, and the rest of the cell materials separates into two daughter cells |
| daughter cells | the new cells that result from division, each having an exact and precise two-stranded copy of the original two-stranded chromosome |
| diploid | cells that have two copies of each chromosome (somatic cells of the body) |
| fertilization | the fusion of two gametes |
| gamete | the reproductive cells made by meiosis |
| gonads | the ovaries and testes in sexually reproducing animals |
| haploid | cells that have one copy of each chromosome (gametes) |
| hermaphrodite | an organism that produces both male and female gametes |
| homologous pair | the maternal and paternal copies of a chromosome (homologues) |
| interphase | the phase of the cell cycle where the cell grows and prepares to divide |
| karyotype | a visual display of an individual's complete set of chromosomes |
| meiosis | a process that enables organisms, prior to fertilization, to make special reproductive cells (gametes) which have only half as many chromosomes as the rest of the cells in the organism's body |
| metaphase | the phase of mitosis where the sister chromatids line up at the center of the cell |
| mitosis | a process in which the duplicated genetic material in the nucleus of the parent cell divides |
| mitotic phase | the phase of the cell cycle where first, the nucleus and genetic material within the cell divides, and then the rest of the cellular contents divides |
| nondisjunction | the unequal distribution of chromosomes during meiosis |
| parent cell | the original cell that divides |
| placenta | the organ formed during pregnancy (and expelled at birth) that allows the transfer of gases, nutrients, and waste products between mother and fetus |
| prophase | the phase of mitosis where the nuclear membrane breaks down, the sister chromatids condense, and the spindle forms |
| replication | the process by which an exact copy of the cell's DNA is created |
| reproductive cell | a sex cell (gametes), a sperm or egg |
| sexual reproduction | combination of DNA from two separate individuals is passed on to offspring, resulting in offspring that are genetically different from one another and from their parents |
| sister chromatids | the two identical strands of a replicated chromosome |
| somatic cell | a cell that forms the body of the organism |
| spindle | a part of the cytoskeleton of a cell, formed in prophase (in mitosis) or in prophase I (in meiosis), from which extend fibers that organize and separate the sister chromatids |
| spindle fiber | extend from one pole of a cell to the other and pull the sister chromatids apart in the anaphase stage of mitosis or the anaphase II stage of meiosis |
| telomere | a protective cap at the tip of every chromosome |
| telophase | the phase of mitosis when the chromosomes begin to uncoil as the nuclear membrane is reassembled around them |
| X and Y chromosomes | the human sex chromosomes |
Combine with other sets
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